Page 86 of The Warrior Priest
“And what did you see? What did she not want you to tell the sheriff?”
“That Dreen woman came here, the one who wears trousers. She met the governor in his study. I was on the porch outside, throwing dust from my pan into the garden and the window was open. I heard them. He wanted her to bring you to him. She said there was no point because you couldn’t make his pendant work.” She shrugged. “I didn’t understand what she meant. I understood the next bit, though. She said she’d kill you, and make sure Master Rhys was blamed. The governor agreed to pay her for that.”
The sheriff disappeared.
“Stupid girl,” the housekeeper hissed. “You don’t bite the hand that feeds you.”
Bella shrank back against the wall.
“You did the right thing,” I assured her.
“I should have said something earlier, but she ordered me not to. She said I’d lose my position here, and I’ve got nowhere to go.”
Rhys marched the housekeeper out of the stairwell and handed her over to one of the constables. Two others emerged from an adjoining room, Uncle Roderic between them. Two weren’t necessary. He posed no threat, frail as he was. Indeed, the constables were there more for support, since he didn’t have his walking stick.
The sheriff followed. “Found him cowering in his bedchamber.” He ordered his constables to escort my uncle and the housekeeper to the holding cells.
A heavy weight lifted from my shoulders as I watched them go. “When will his trial commence?” I asked the sheriff.
“That’s up to the magistrate, but no more than two or three days from now.”
“I’ll visit him before I leave Tilting.” I almost told him I was leaving because there were too many memories here, haunting me at every turn, but then I’d have to admit they were memories of Rhys and the wonderful times we’d spent together, not of my uncle’s treatment. I was able to push those aside. I wasn’t able to forget Rhys.
“He doesn’t deserve your kindness, Miss Trenchant.”
“He’s still my uncle, my only family.”
Rhys’s hand touched my lower back, reassuring.
I stepped forward, breaking the connection.
The sheriff followed his men, taking the remaining constables with him. My uncle’s guards asked if they were free to go, and Rufus nodded. They, too, left.
Rufus looked past my shoulder at Rhys. “Until there’s a vote, you’re still master. You’re needed at the temple, but I understand if you want to stay with Jac.”
Rhys’s answer was simply to push past me and stride out.
I watched him leave, my throat tight, my chest aching. It would be the last time I saw him. It had to be, for both our sakes. He may have resigned from the role of master, but he was still dedicated to the order. I couldn’t live in the same city as him. Tilting was too small. I didn’t want to bump into him when I turned a corner, or worse,hopethat I did. I was tired of waiting and being hopeful that we had a future together. It was time to move on.
He’d made his decision, and I had made mine.
“He looks terrible,” Andreas said, giving me a pointed look.
“It’s the beard,” Vizah told him.
“It is not the beard.”
Rufus put his arm around his friend. “Come on, idiot.”
“Am I an idiot?” Vizah mused. “Or am I smarter than all of you?”
Rufus and Andreas exchanged glances. “You’re an idiot,” they both said.
I could have stayedon at the house. My uncle had never thrown me out and had in fact told me I could have my old room back. But I didn’t want to stay somewhere I couldn’t trust all of the staff. I returned to the inn. Although I had nothing to pack, the room was paid for and it was growing dark. I needed somewhere to stay overnight.
I ordered bread and cheese to eat in the room. I couldn’t stomach a single bite, however, and set the plate aside. Sitting cross-legged on the pallet, I stared into the low flickering flames in the fireplace and tried to think about my future.
The knock on the door startled me. Rhys’s voice startled me even more. “Jac, it’s me. Can I come in?”
